Dominic Saliba sentenced, jailed for killing cousin Bailey Jones in Bomaderry

A young man who fatally stabbed his teenage cousin in the chest at a house party on the NSW South Coast has been sentenced and jailed for the brutal killing.

Dominic Saliba was arrested and charged with murder in December 2022. Picture: NSW Police

A courtroom filled with friends, family and supporters of Bailey Jones watched on as his killer finally learned his fate after he fatally stabbed the 18-year-old at a NSW South Coast house party.

Dominic Saliba, 22, was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday, months after he was found guilty of manslaughter in a two-week-long judge alone trial in Nowra.

Saliba, who resided in the Shoalhaven, was originally charged with murder after stabbing his cousin Mr Jones in the upper chest at a Bomaderry party on December 9, 2022, but was ultimately convicted of the lesser charge.

Monday’s judgment by Justice Dina Yehia followed eight emotional victim impact statements, including Mr Jones’ mother, Caroline Micallef, who tearfully told the court of the nightmare she has endured since losing her son.

“I stand here torn today in full strength, facing Dominic in honour of Bailey,” she said through tears.

“He was one of a kind, and no parent should have to go through this.

“The actions of Dominic Saliba have devastated our entire family and I cannot bring my son back.”

Bailey Jones was 18 when he died. Picture: File

Saliba was arrested on December 22, 2022, days after the stabbing, which unfolded on the driveway of a suburban home on West Birriley St.

The court heard tensions between the cousins reached a boiling point at the party, ending in a heated argument and the fatal stabbing.

Saliba initially claimed Mr Jones had fallen on the knife while he played with it – a version rejected by investigators, who found Saliba’s fingerprints on the 58cm long blade.

Caroline Micallef, mother of Bailey Jones, previously told the court of her heartbreak. Picture: Simon Bullard

Mr Jones was rushed to hospital fighting for life, but tragically died from his injuries.

Saliba was charged, refused bail, and has remained in custody since.

In court on Monday, Justice Yehia spoke directly to Saliba who sat in the dock.

She said Mr Jones was a “young man who had his whole life ahead of him”.

“The offender will have to live with knowing he killed him and that burden for the rest of his life,” Justice Yehia said.

When laying down sentence, Justice Yehia acknowledged submissions previously put forth by Saliba’s defence barrister, which noted his client’s tough upbringing and anger management issues.

She also noted an aggravating feature of the manslaughter offending, saying the fatal stabbing occurred while Saliba was serving an intensive correction order for armed robbery.

Justice Yehia said she was “not persuaded” he had “good prospects of rehabilitation” as a result.

While Saliba submitted a letter of apology to the court one day before sentencing, Justice Yehia said it lacked evidence of remorse.

However, she said the letter did reveal Saliba accepted responsibility and that he “genuinely regrets his actions”.

Saliba was ultimately sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment of seven years and nine months – four years and three months without parole.

With time served, Saliba will be eligible for release on July 21, 2027.

The aggregate sentence also included a charge of possessing a firearm without a licence or permit, after police found a modified firearm on his property during investigations into Mr Jones’ death.

Saliba pleaded guilty to the charge in Nowra Local Court in April this year.

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